The Meaning of Hebrews 5:3 Explained

Hebrews 5:3

KJV: And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

YLT: and because of this infirmity he ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins;

Darby: and, on account of this infirmity, he ought, even as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

ASV: and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  by reason  hereof  he ought,  as  for  the people,  so  also  for  himself,  to offer  for  sins. 

What does Hebrews 5:3 Mean?

Study Notes

sins
Sin.
sinned
Sin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 .
Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.

Context Summary

Hebrews 5:1-10 - Our Divinely Appointed High Priest
Having to act for men, our High Priest must be man, acquainted with human conditions; having to do with God, he must be appointed by God. Is there one of us that is not conscious of liability to ignorance and wandering? We all evermore need the high priesthood of Jesus.
The Aaronic priests must needs make atonement for themselves, but our Lord was without sin. See Leviticus 4:3. Hebrews 5:5 has reference to His resurrection and ascension. See Romans 1:4; Acts 13:33. His priestly service dates from the completion of His mediatorial work on the Cross. No scene in our Lord's life fulfills Hebrews 5:7 like that of the Garden, when it seemed impossible for the human body to hold out under the stress of His anguish. He feared that He would succumb before He reached Calvary. He had to yield obedience unto death in order to learn what obedience really means. Thus as to His humanity He became perfected; and if only we believe and obey, He will effect a perfect deliverance for us from all evil. There is no sin so strong, no need so intricate, that He cannot cope with it. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 5

1  The honor of our Savior's priesthood
11  Negligence in the knowledge thereof is reproved

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 5:3

For himself [περι εαυτου]
Note περι — peri three times here (περι του λαου περι εαυτου περι αμαρτιων — peri tou laou class="normal greek">υπερ αντρωπων υπερ αμαρτιων — peri heautou class="normal greek">περι — peri hamartiōn), but in Hebrews 5:1 υπερ — huper anthrōpōn class="translit"> huper hamartiōn In the Koiné this interchange of peri (around) and huper (over) is common (Matthew 26:28). [source]
He ought [ὀφείλει]
It is his duty, growing out of the fact of his own infirmity. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 5:3

Hebrews 13:12 That he might sanctify the people [ἵνα ἁγιάσῃ τὸν λαόν]
Ἁγιάζειν tosanctify had a peculiar significance to Jews. It meant to set them apart as holy. Hence, the Israelites were called ἅγιοι , as separated from other nations and consecrated to God. Our writer extends the application of the word to Christians. For Christ's work he claims the same efficacy which the Jew claimed for the special call of God to Israel, and for the operation of the Jewish sacrificial system. The office of his atoning work is to sanctify; to make for himself a holy nation ( ἔθνος ἅγιον ), a people “prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17); a true Israel of God. Ὁ λαός thepeople, or λαός mypeople, occurs constantly in O.T. as a designation of Israel, and also in N.T. See, in this epistle, Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 7:5, Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 9:19. The N.T. extends the title to all who, under the new dispensation, occupy the position of Israel. See 1 Peter 2:10; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10; Hebrews 4:9; Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 10:30; Hebrews 11:25. [source]
Hebrews 5:7 In the days of his flesh [εν ταις ημεραις της σαρκος αυτου]
Here (Hebrews 5:7-9) the author turns to the other requirement of a high priest (human sympathy). Since Jesus was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) he did not have to offer sacrifices “for himself,” yet in all other points he felt the sympathy of the human high priest, even more so by reason of his victory over sin. Having offered up Second aorist active (-α — a form) participle of προσπερω — prospherō (cf. Hebrews 5:3). An allusion to the Agony of Christ in Gethsemane. Supplications Socrates, Polybius, Job (Job 40:22) combine this word with δεησεις — deēseis (prayers) as here. The older form was ικεσια — hikesia The word ικετηριος — hiketērios is an adjective from ικετης — hiketēs (a suppliant from ικω — hikō to come to one) and suggests one coming with an olive branch Here only in the N.T. With strong crying and tears See Luke 22:44. for a picture of the scene in Gethsemane (anguish and pathos). No doubt the writer has in mind other times when Jesus shed tears (John 11:35; Luke 19:41), but Gethsemane chiefly. To save him from death A reference to the cry of Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39). Having been heard for his godly fear Old word from ευλαβης — eulabēs (taking hold well, Luke 2:25 from ευ λαμβανω — eu class="normal greek">ευλαβεομαι — lambanō the verb eulabeomai in N.T. only in Hebrews 11:7), in N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:28. Fine picture of Christ‘s attitude toward the Father in the prayer in Gethsemane and in all his prayers. Jesus in Gethsemane at once surrendered his will to that of the Father who heard his plea and enabled him to acquiesce in the Father‘s will. [source]
Hebrews 9:25 That he should offer himself often [ινα πολλακις προσπερηι εαυτον]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of προσπερω — prospherō (keep on offering himself, like Hebrews 5:1, Hebrews 5:3). With blood not his own So-called instrumental use of εν — en (accompaniment). αλλοτριος — allotrios means “belonging to another,” “not one‘s own” (Luke 16:12). [source]
Hebrews 5:7 Having offered up [προσενεγκας]
Second aorist active (-α — a form) participle of προσπερω — prospherō (cf. Hebrews 5:3). An allusion to the Agony of Christ in Gethsemane. Supplications Socrates, Polybius, Job (Job 40:22) combine this word with δεησεις — deēseis (prayers) as here. The older form was ικεσια — hikesia The word ικετηριος — hiketērios is an adjective from ικετης — hiketēs (a suppliant from ικω — hikō to come to one) and suggests one coming with an olive branch Here only in the N.T. With strong crying and tears See Luke 22:44. for a picture of the scene in Gethsemane (anguish and pathos). No doubt the writer has in mind other times when Jesus shed tears (John 11:35; Luke 19:41), but Gethsemane chiefly. To save him from death A reference to the cry of Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39). Having been heard for his godly fear Old word from ευλαβης — eulabēs (taking hold well, Luke 2:25 from ευ λαμβανω — eu class="normal greek">ευλαβεομαι — lambanō the verb eulabeomai in N.T. only in Hebrews 11:7), in N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:28. Fine picture of Christ‘s attitude toward the Father in the prayer in Gethsemane and in all his prayers. Jesus in Gethsemane at once surrendered his will to that of the Father who heard his plea and enabled him to acquiesce in the Father‘s will. [source]
Hebrews 9:14 How much more [ποσωι μαλλον]
Instrumental case, “by how much more,” by the measure of the superiority of Christ‘s blood to that of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer. Through the eternal Spirit Not the Holy Spirit, but Christ‘s own spirit which is eternal as he is. There is thus a moral quality in the blood of Christ not in that of other sacrifices. Offered himself Second aorist active indicative of προσπερω — prospherō (used so often as in Hebrews 5:1, Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 8:3). The voluntary character of Christ‘s death is again emphasized. Without blemish Old compound adjective (Colossians 1:22; 1 Peter 1:19) as the sacrifice had to be (Exodus 29:1; Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 1:10). Shall cleanse from conscience Future active indicative of καταριζω — katharizō Some MSS. have ημων — hēmōn (our). The old Greek used καταιρω — kathairō not καταριζω — katharizō (in inscriptions for ceremonial cleansing, Deissmann, Bible Studies, pp. 216f.), for cleansing. From dead works As in Hebrews 6:1. “A pause might be made before εργων — ergōn from dead - (not bodies but) works.” [source]
1 Peter 3:18 For sins [περι αμαρτιων]
“Concerning sins” (not his, but ours, 1 Peter 1:18). Περι — Peri (around, concerning) with αμαρτιας — hamartias in the regular phrase for the sin offering (Leviticus 5:7; Leviticus 6:30), though υπερ αμαρτιας — huper hamartias does occur (Ezekiel 43:25). So in the N.T. we find both περι αμαρτιων — peri hamartiōn (Hebrews 5:3) and υπερ αμαρτιων — huper hamartiōn (Hebrews 5:1).Once (απαχ — hapax). Once for all (Hebrews 9:28), not once upon a time (ποτε — pote).The righteous for the unrighteous Literally, “just for unjust” (no articles). See 1 Peter 2:19 for the sinlessness of Christ as the one perfect offering for sin. This is what gives Christ‘s blood value. He has no sin himself. Some men today fail to perceive this point.That he might bring us to God (ινα ημας προσαγαγηι τωι τεωι — hina hēmās prosagagēi tōi theōi). Purpose clause with ινα — hina with second aorist active subjunctive of προσαγω — prosagō and the dative case τωι τεωι — tōi theōi The MSS. vary between ημας — hēmās (us) and υμας — humās (you). The verb προσαγω — prosagō means to lead or bring to (Matthew 18:24), to approach God (cf. προσαγωγην — prosagōgēn in Ephesians 2:18), to present us to God on the basis of his atoning death for us, which has opened the way (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 10:19.)Being put to death in the flesh First aorist passive participle of τανατοω — thanatoō old verb (from τανατος — thanatos death), to put to death. Σαρκι — Sarki is locative case of σαρχ — sarx quickened in the spirit First aorist passive participle of ζωοποιεω — zōopoieō rare (Aristotle) verb (from ζωοποιος — zōopoios making alive), to make alive. The participles are not antecedent to απετανεν — apethanen but simultaneous with it. There is no such construction as the participle of subsequent action. The spirit of Christ did not die when his flesh did, but “was endued with new and greater powers of life” (Thayer). See 1 Corinthians 15:22 for the use of the verb for the resurrection of the body. But the use of the word πνευματι — pneumati (locative case) in contrast with σαρκι — sarki starts Peter‘s mind off in a long comparison by way of illustration that runs from 1 Peter 3:19-22. The following verses have caused more controversy than anything in the Epistle. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 5:3 mean?

and because of this he is obligated just as for the people so also himself to offer sacrifices sins
καὶ δι’ αὐτὴν ὀφείλει καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ οὕτως καὶ αὑτοῦ προσφέρειν ἁμαρτιῶν

δι’  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
αὐτὴν  this 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὀφείλει  he  is  obligated 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὀφείλω  
Sense: to owe.
καθὼς  just  as 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καθώς  
Sense: according as.
λαοῦ  people 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λαός  
Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language.
οὕτως  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
αὑτοῦ  himself 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
προσφέρειν  to  offer  sacrifices 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: προσφέρω  
Sense: to bring to, lead to.
ἁμαρτιῶν  sins 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: ἁμαρτία  
Sense: equivalent to 264.